Hot off the heals from Craft Week,  City and Guilds of London Art School is at it again and having it’s annual show and we’ve had an inspection. The artists are completing their foundation year, so the work is less advanced than the much grander Degree Show (we’ll get on to that in a tic). The students are studying a more proscribed range of styles than their more advanced counterparts but are much more experimental (read, slightly mad but very interesting). The themes this year seem to be 1. Saving the planet 2. Handbags   3. Saving the planet through handbags 4. Rocks. If you want to impress your friends bring them along and when they invariably  ask ‘well, what DOES it mean’, try rolling your eyes and saying ‘its about IDENTITY’. If that doesn’t work try ‘can’t you see, it’s about UKRAINE’. 

The Foundation show is on tomorrow (Friday the 20th) from 10 – 5 and Saturday 10 – 5. It’s  in the old telephone building in Kennings Way

On 29 June to 3 July is the mighty (we’re talking huge) Degree Show in the main buildings of the college. It showcases a range of up and coming artists arranged in small rooms, so you can see a selection of their works. What we find most interesting is that you can see the work of historic wood and stone carvers in the back garden area. Also of interest is the areas dealing with conservation and restoration on the upper floors. And if you don’t care for something keep your trap shut as chances are the artist is behind you!